Nikzad Runs for 351 as Wolverines Punish Warriors

Senior running back Iman Nikzad rushed for a school-record 351 yards in 31 carries and scored five touchdowns to lead Aliso Niguel to a 49-29 Sea View League victory over Woodbridge Saturday night at Irvine High.

Nikzad had 265 yards in 20 carries and scored four touchdowns in the first half to help the Wolverines (5-4, 1-2 in league) move out to a 42-7 lead at halftime. Woodbridge (5-4, 0-3) got a strong effort from senior Shane Harris, who rushed for 209 yards in 25 carries.

Harris played running back for most of the game, but at times was the quarterback for Woodbridge. However, the Warriors were unable to contain Nikzad.

By halftime, Nikzad had already set the Aliso Niguel single-game rushing record, surpassing the previous mark of 244 yards set by Scott Nemeth in 1996.

But Nikzad said he wasn’t thinking too much about that record, or about going after the Orange County mark set by Foothill High’s Skyler Champion Thursday. “I was just looking for the win,” Nikzad said. “The offense opened up great holes. The defense played great and got the offense the ball. We had a great week of practice. The coaches told us the magnitude of this game was really big and this game could keep our playoff hopes alive.”

Nikzad also had a two-yard touchdown run with 7:08 left in the third quarter to give Aliso Niguel a 49-7 lead. Nikzad came out after that drive and did not play until late in the game after Woodbridge started to make a move.

The Warriors took advantage of three Aliso Niguel fumbles in the second half to close the gap to 49-29 on an 18-yard touchdown run by Justin Valentine with 4:18 left in the game. That prompted Aliso Niguel Coach Joe Wood to bring most of his starters, including Nikzad, back in the game.

Nikzad scored on runs of eight, 79 and 75 yards in the first quarter, and Aliso Niguel wasn’t seriously threatened after that.